Bug Club (KS2)

'Bug Club' is a web-based reading program for Key Stage 2 children, that allows pupils to access and read electronic books over the internet. Teachers allocate books to their class and then the children log on to the web to read the books and answer questions about them. Class teachers will give out log-in details to the children in school. Please be assured that this scheme does not replace our policy of sending books home to read. Instead, Bug Club is an extra opportunity for the children to enjoy books in a different way. If you have any questions regarding Bug Club, please speak to your class teacher.

What is Bug Club?

Bug Club is an online reading scheme with a personalised website for each child. It is to be used AS WELL as the printed book scheme we already have in school, but gives the children the chance to read e-books at the appropriate reading level.

Using the online reading world

If you have access to an internet connection, your child can enjoy reading Bug Club books online as well as in print. Each child has a unique homepage, and can log into it by following these steps:

1) Using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as a web browser, go to www.activelearnprimary.co.ukBug Club can also be used on iPads 2s, 3s or 4s. If you are using an iPad, use Safari as the browser. Bug Club should now be supported on other devices (Android etc) and browsers.

2) Enter the login details. Make sure you use a capital letter for the first letter of your password!3) Your child’s homepage will appear.(Bug Club is now compatible with most Tablets and Andriod Devices. However some users may experience the following issues: you may be able to access Bug Club using these devices, but the activities in the eBook will not work properly so Bug Club do not recommend this.4) Click on ‘My Stuff’ to access the books on your reading level to read.

Our school ID for Bug Club is 9m9x and individual login details should have already been provided by the school.

If your child does not have access to the internet at home or a device that can use Bug Club, then Mrs. Walling is running a daily lunch time club, where the children can come and use the laptops in the school library.

Reading a book online

We allocate books to your child according to their reading levels. These books will appear on their personal homepages. Throughout the books there are quiz questions for your child to complete. To answer a question, just click on the bug icon. Your child does not need to finish all the quiz questions in one sitting and can come back to a book later. When your child has finished all the quiz questions in a book, he or she will earn ‘Bug Points’. By reading more books, your child will earn enough points for a reward. The answers to the quiz questions will be sent back to our teacher site so that we can see how your child is progressing. We will also be able to assign more books for your child to read if the virtual book bag is running low.When your child has finished a book, it will move to ‘Look again’ or ‘My Library.’ Children can read these books again if they want to, or they can choose new books from ‘My Stuff.’

Getting involved

The readerUntil they are fluent readers, younger children will benefit from reading aloud to you as often as possible. By the time they are in Years 5 or 6, many children prefer to read silently to themselves. Create quiet opportunities for them to do so, but then talk to them about the book they are reading.

Sharing readingWhen sharing a book with your child, try to take opportunities to talk about the book – before, during and after reading.

Before reading: look at the book cover and talk about your child’s expectations. Is the book likely to be fiction or non-fiction? Have you read other books together about these characters or by this author? What does your child think the book is going to be about?

While reading: support your child when unknown words need tackling: you can sound them out, split them into syllables, or identify suffixes and prefixes. Remind your child to listen to the words while reading them, to make sure that they make sense. Have a ‘meaning check’ every now and again to ensure that your child understands the text.

After reading: talk about the book. What was it about? Did it match your child’s expectations? Ask questions beginning with the words how and why to check that your child has been able to read between the lines. Ask whether anything seemed puzzling. Then ask your child to explain what the best and worst bits of the book were, and why.

For more information about helping your child with their reading at home, click on the Parents’ help button on the Bug Club homepage or contact Miss Morley via email: jmorley@be.jmat.org.ukIf you would like a demo of Bug Club then please register your interest with Miss Morley via email and depending upon numbers she will organise a parents’ workshop to go through the website with you.